Department for Transport

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the effects of (1) vehicle speeds, and (2) journey times, on emissions in urban areas; and if so, whether higher (a) vehicle speeds, or (b) journey times, have a greater effect on emissions levels.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government has commissioned studies to assess the impact of vehicle speed on emissions, for example undertaking a high-resolution emission modelling approach to understand changes in vehicle speeds and how it relates to emissions. The Department uses the best available evidence to model emissions in urban areas, including evidence linking vehicle speeds with emissions based on international guidelines. The evidence is that the factors influencing emissions are complex and the relative impact of vehicle speed, acceleration/deceleration and distance travelled (which are all related to journey times), will vary depending on the local situation. In addition, the Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit helps local authorities to calculate NOx emissions in their local areas using outputs from traffic models, which use a range of parameters including speed and distance travelled (which influence journey time) and the number of vehicles. The results of these parameters are contained in their Full Business Cases which are all published documents.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the effects of low emission zones in urban areas on (1) vehicle usage, (2) average vehicle speeds, (3) average vehicle journey times, (4) emissions levels, and (5) overall air quality.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government has commissioned a robust evaluation programme for the collection and analysis of air quality, traffic, and behavioural insights data from Local Authority areas implementing measures for the reduction of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Case studies give further understanding of how local plans are affecting local groups and businesses.The Government has published a series of annual reports which set out and discuss the analysis of these evaluation findings. Headline findings from these reports and other analyses give an insight into the effects of Clean Air Zones and other measures on air quality and vehicle fleets in Local Authorities. The 2021 annual report is available to view on the Defra Science Search - AQ0851.

Biofuels: Vegetable Oils

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of future of biodiesel made from used cooking oil; and what support are they giving to the sector.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) certificate trading scheme is successfully supporting a market for renewable fuels in the UK. In recognition of the carbon reduction and wider environmental benefits, the scheme provides twice the level of reward for biodiesel produced from wastes as compared to biodiesel made from crop feedstocks. This double reward extends to biodiesel produced from used cooking oil (UCO). Information on the supply of biodiesel rewarded under the RTFO is reported by suppliers and published quarterly on gov.uk. The latest full year’s verified data indicates that in 2021, biodiesel made up 52 per cent of renewable fuel supplied in the UK and that 93 per cent of biodiesel was produced from UCO. The Department’s forthcoming Low Carbon Fuels Strategy will set a vision of the deployment of low carbon fuels across UK transport in the period up to 2050, including biodiesel. The future supply of biodiesel produced from UCO for use in the UK will depend upon a number of factors, including its price competitiveness compared to other renewable fuels.

Department of Health and Social Care

Medical Treatments: Innovation

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of access to innovative medicines by (1) region, and (2) socioeconomic status; and what steps they are taking to (a) ensure equity, and (b) assess the impact of inequitable access to innovative medicines on the economy.

Lord Markham: Existing reporting tools, such as NHS Digital’s Innovation Scorecard, monitor the use of innovative medicines and medicinal products. To further analyse the extent of regional variation in the uptake of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved medicines, the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) is working with NHS England and jointly engaging with stakeholders across the health system to understand the drivers of variation and the barriers to equitable uptake. No specific assessment has been made of variation in access to innovative medicines by socioeconomic status, nor of the impact of inequitable access to innovative medicines on the economy. The Strategic Metrics Group, with representatives across Government, the National Health Service, NICE and industry are working to deliver on commitments set out in the Life Sciences Vision. This will improve the NHS use of proven and cost-effective innovations, including new medicines, through strengthened innovation metrics and a focus on identifying and addressing unwarranted variation in uptake.

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what are the (1) resources, and (2) capacity, of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Association (MHRA); and whether they have made an assessment of the current capacity of the MHRA to keep pace with the expected launches of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved medicines to the UK market.

Lord Markham: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an executive agency of the Department, regulates medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the United Kingdom. MHRA employs over 1380 staff and for 2021/22, its total resources were £167 million, funded mostly by income from fees and charges for both statutory and non-statutory sales of products and services. The fees that MHRA charges for its services reflect the cost of providing that service and these are set in legislation, following public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny. MHRA and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) work closely together to ensure that there is a joined-up, and timely approach to supporting access for National Health Service patients to new medicines. NICE aims wherever possible to publish final guidance on new medicines within 90 days of MHRA granting a marketing authorisation.

Clinical Trials

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the decline in the number of clinical trials, and (2) its impact on patient outcomes.

Lord Markham: The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) supports study sites to deliver research across England. In 2021/22 there were 6,383 studies on the NIHR CRN portfolio which has seen year-on-year growth in study numbers, recruiting more than one million participants. Overall, this suggests there are greater opportunities for people to participate in clinical trials that could benefit patient outcomes. The Department, in partnership with NHS England, is taking action to recover the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) capacity to deliver clinical research through the Research Reset programme to ensure new studies can open and be delivered within planned timescales, while addressing the backlog caused by the pandemic to ensure the UK remains an attractive global destination for new research.

Clinical Trials

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the finding by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) that there has been a 41 per cent decline in clinical trial numbers since 2017, what assessment they have made of the reasons why the recovery inthe number of clinical trials is slow; and what additional steps they are taking to address this.

Lord Markham: Data published by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry highlights a decline in the number of commercial contract clinical trials initiated in the United Kingdom (UK), primarily in 2020 and 2021. This was the result of the pandemic when many studies were paused to focus on nationally prioritised COVID-19 studies. There has, however, been a year-on-year growth in the number of studies overall and by December 2021, the number of studies on the National Institute for Health and Care Research Clinical Research Network portfolio was higher than ever before. Increased workload pressure on the National Health Service (NHS) research & development workforce, in the context of the recovery of wider NHS services and changes to care pathways, means the UK has seen a growing backlog of studies waiting to start or taking longer to complete. The Department, in partnership with NHS England, is taking action to recover the UK’s capacity to deliver commercial research through the Research Reset programme to ensure new studies can open and be delivered within planned timescales, while addressing the backlog to ensure the UK remains an attractive global destination for new research.

Health Services: Disadvantaged

The Lord Bishop of London: To ask His Majesty's Government whether their new Major Conditions Strategy will include the content of their unpublishedHealth Disparities White Paper.

Lord Markham: The Major Conditions Strategy will consider major conditions in the round, including disparities due to geography and other factors. Many stakeholders have already responded to government consultations on mental health, dementia, health disparities and cancer. We will draw on the insights and evidence provided through these processes and the Department will set out opportunities to contribute further in due course.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Peru: Politics and Government

Lord Alderdice: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Peru about reports of (1) the deaths of civilians in that country following recent protests against the President, and (2) the alleged involvement of Peruvian security services in these deaths.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK supports the Peruvian Government and constitutional order. We welcome dialogue to calm the ongoing protests. In light of reports of abuses and the deaths of protestors, it is important that the Peruvian Government does all it can to protect lives, and that there is greater transparency of how the Peruvian Government is ensuring the protection of rights. Our Embassy to Lima has raised this regularly in recent days with senior Peruvian Government politicians and security officials. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Americas & Caribbean) also raised his concerns in his meeting with the Peruvian ambassador recently on the 25 January 2023, as did our trade minister in his recent meeting with the Peruvian Minister of Finance.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Recycling

Lord Bassam of Brighton: To ask His Majesty's Government what were the recycling rates for each local authority in the last year for which figures are available; and what is the ranking of local authorities with regard to percentage of waste recycled.

Lord Benyon: This data is available online for England here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1047704/LA_and_Regional_Spreadsheet_2021_rev.ods (see Table 3, also attached). Defra holds this data for England only as waste is a devolved policy.LA and regional spreadsheet (xls, 899.0KB)

Food: Waste

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking toreduce any adverse effects of food waste on climate change.

Lord Benyon: Separate food waste collections are our biggest waste sector contributor towards reducing waste sector emissions (and towards achieving zero food waste to landfill). We are bringing forward £295 million of capital funding which will allow local authorities in England to prepare to implement free weekly separate food waste collections for all households. The Environment Act 2021 will enable us to require local authorities to collect food waste weekly, which would divert it from landfill and reduce emissions. We have been engaging with local authorities as we develop how that funding will be allocated to them to implement separate food waste collections. We are currently drafting the Government response to our recent consultation on consistency in recycling, where we plan to confirm the commencement dates for separate food waste collections to be included in regulations. We are fully committed to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 target, which seeks to halve global food waste at consumer and retail levels by 2030 and avoid the greenhouse gas production emissions associated with food that becomes waste.

Shellfish: North East

Lord Shipley: To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish all the evidence (1) received by, and (2) considered by, the expert panel appointed to investigate the cause of mass marine deaths between the River Tees and the River Esk.

Lord Benyon: Details of all the evidence received and considered by the panel have been published alongside the report in the document ‘Evidence gathered for the assessment of unusual crustacean mortality in the north-east of England in 2021 and 2022’ which is available on the gov.uk website. Where possible, the panel has published the evidence considered. Where this has not been possible either a link has been provided to where the data has already been published or details of the organisation which owns the evidence have been provided.

Shellfish: North East

Lord Shipley: To ask His Majesty's Government why the expert panel appointed toinvestigate the cause of mass marine deaths between the River Tees and the River Eskdid not undertake its own research into the deaths; and why it only met three times.

Lord Benyon: The Crustacean Mortality Expert Panel (CMEP) were asked to review all the available evidence of the unusual crustacean mortality event in the north-east of England (between September and December 2021) using all relevant available data at the time of their investigation. The CMEP were given access to a variety of data (including imagery, monitoring surveys, logs; a full list of the evidence used in the CMEP report has been published alongside the report) and they reviewed published data on similar events from other locations globally. Using this evidence the CMEP provided an independent scientific assessment of the possible causes of the mass crustacean mortality incident. The remit of the CMEP did not include the collection of additional data.The panel were asked to conduct and complete their work in a timely fashion. The full CMEP met on three occasions between December 2022 and January 2023, with subgroups meeting to analyse aspects of the issue between meetings.

Shellfish: North East

Lord Shipley: To ask His Majesty's Government what evidence they have to suggest that the cause of mass marine deaths between the River Tees and the River Esk was the result of a new pathogen, given the presence of high levels of pyridine in dead crustaceans.

Lord Benyon: The Crustacean Mortality Expert Panel were unable to identify a clear and convincing single cause for the unusual crustacean mortality but considered a novel pathogen or disease to be, as likely as not (33 to 66% probability), the cause of the mass mortalities reported in the north-east of England in autumn 2021. This likelihood is based on key observations including mortality over a sustained period and along 70 km of coastline, the unusual twitching of dying crabs and the deaths being predominantly crabs rather than other species.The panel concluded it was very unlikely that pyridine or another toxic pollutant caused the crab deaths, given there could not be sources of any significant volume of pyridine during the period of the crab deaths. Seawater measurements (by the Environment Agency and by York University) could not detect levels of pyridine sufficient to cause mortality during this period. Environment Agency tests for pyridine in crab tissue in the affected north-east coastal region as well from Penzance, Cornwall, and the Norfolk Wash indicated that pyridine can be found in crab tissue in most samples regardless of location. Sediment levels of pyridine from dredged material and other toxic chemicals found in sediments were significantly lower than the levels which would cause crab mortality.

Shellfish: North East

Lord Shipley: To ask His Majesty's Government whythe expert panel appointed to investigate the cause of mass marine deaths between the River Tees and the River Esk did not take evidence fromscientists who considered that the cause was industrial toxins, rather thannatural algal toxins.

Lord Benyon: The Crustacean Mortality Expert Panel (CMEP) actively sought data and input from external scientists (including scientists from Universities) who have investigated this issue and did consider the evidence they provided. The scientists were invited to submit any evidence they thought relevant throughout the review period, including on industrial toxins. This evidence was shared with the independent expert panel to consider as part of their assessment and formed an active part of their consideration. The CMEP followed up with questions and communication via written correspondence.

Horses: Exports

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the requirements placed on the movement of horses between the UK and France; and what progress they have made onnegotiating a tripartite agreement for the free movement of horses between Ireland, France and the UK.

Lord Benyon: Following the departure of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) the requirements for exporting equines to the EU are decided by the European Commission, and the UK is now treated as a third country. Whilst the biosecurity status of the UK has not changed since leaving the EU, equines are now subject to requirements for certain health tests before travel and pre-export residence and isolation periods. Equines must have an Export Health Certificate signed off by an Official Veterinarian. Equines must enter the EU and Northern Ireland through Border Control Posts where they are subject to 100% documentary, physical and ID checks. Prior to EU membership, there was a Tripartite Agreement (TPA) between Ireland, France and the UK for certain equines moving between the three nations. When the UK joined the EU, the EU agreed a continuation of the TPA as part of our membership agreement, as a derogation. When the UK left the EU and became a third country, the TPA ceased.

Home Office

British Nationality: Assessments

Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee: To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is a limit on how many times the Life in the UK test may be re-taken.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: There is currently no limit on how many times the Life in the UK test may be re-taken. The latest pass rate for the Life in the UK test is published in Visas and Citizenship data: Q3 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The pass rate for applicants from Hong Kong is not available in a publishable format.The Life in the UK test is important for anyone applying to settle permanently in the UK to ensure they have an understanding of the democratic principles underlying British society and aspects of our culture and traditions. We intend to set out our plans to review the Life in the UK handbook as part of wider nationality reforms in the first half of next year.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Levelling Up Fund

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of bids submitted for the second round of the Levelling Up Fund were successful, broken down by region.

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total number of bids to the second round of the Levelling Up Fund, broken down by region; and how much was allocated in cash to each region from the second round of the Fund.

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government what were the total cash allocations for the second round of Levelling Up Funds, broken down by region.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: I draw the attention of the noble Lord to the answer given to PQ HL 4921 (attached) on 2 February 2023.PQ HL4921 (pdf, 119.9KB)

Freeports: Northern Ireland

Lord Kilclooney: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made to identify a free port site in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: I draw the attention of the noble Lord to the answer given to PQ HL4711 (attached) on 26th January 2023.PQ HL4711 (pdf, 82.1KB)

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Holiday Accommodation

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the resources available to local authorities to process short-term lets licensing and applications.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: On 7 December 2022, His Majesty’s Government amended the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to create a power to establish a registration scheme for short-term lets. Further details on how the scheme will operate, including how it will be administered, will be explored through a public consultation which will be published at the earliest opportunity this year.

Cinemas: Edinburgh

Lord Stevenson of Balmacara: To ask His Majesty's Government whetherthey are having discussions with the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, and other partners regarding (1) cultural cinema programme activity in Edinburgh, and (2) the 2023 Edinburgh International Film Festival, following the closure of the Edinburgh Film House.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Cultural cinema programme activity in Edinburgh is a matter for the Scottish Government, since this is a devolved policy area. Following the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) going into administration in October 2022, Screen Scotland purchased the intellectual property for the Edinburgh International Film Festival.DCMS officials have spoken to the British Film Institute (BFI) about this issue. The BFI operates UK-wide and has a close working relationship with Creative Scotland and its dedicated screen agency, Screen Scotland. Throughout the period covered by the British Film Institute’s previous corporate strategy, British Film Institute 2022, Screen Scotland has been its delivery partner for the National Lottery-backed British Film Institute NETWORK programme, Short Circuit. The British Film Institute’s new strategy, Screen Culture 2033, is UK-wide and Scotland-based applicants are able to apply for applicable National Lottery funds.

Digital Technology: Disadvantaged

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of theimpact of digital poverty on young people and their households.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: HM Government recognises that digital skills and digital access are increasingly required to participate in many aspects of society.The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport works with third-sector organisations across the UK to understand the challenges facing people in digital poverty. The Digital Poverty Alliance, one of our partners, has recently published an evidence review which made an assessment of the impact of digital poverty on young people and their households. This has found that 30 per cent of young people aged 8–25 (2.1 million people) are at risk of becoming ‘digital castaways’ and that 42 per cent of young people (6 million people) do not have either home broadband or a laptop/desktop computer. Young people who are digitally excluded are less likely to be in well-paying jobs, have worse health outcomes, and have an overall lower quality of life.We also work across Government and with the private sector to ensure that the needs of digitally excluded people are considered. For example, DCMS has negotiated a range of high-quality, low-cost social tariffs for households in receipt of Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits, including Pension Credit. These are available across 99 per cent of the UK.